When India loses 5 wickets within the first half of a gargantuan chase, particularly at new venues which might be constructed outdoors the primary metropolis, the stands begin emptying, hoping to beat the visitors greater than hoping for a miracle on the bottom.
But on Thursday evening, not one of the 30,460 spectators moved from their seats on the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium in Pune, even when India was within the doldrums at 57 for 5 within the tenth over, within the hunt for an unbelievable 207-run mark. The purpose: Suryakumar Yadav was on the crease.
Suryakumar, India’s brightest spot in 2022, did his bit. But it was Axar Patel (65 off 31 balls) who introduced India proper again within the second T20I versus Sri Lanka. Even after Suryakumar departed after a trademark fifty (51, 36b, 3×4, 3×6), Axar discovered an unlikely ally in Shivam Mavi.
He might not have been in a position to seal the collection for India however Axar overshadowed Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka’s onslaught that helped Sri Lanka put up the very best particular person whole in a T20I on the venue. Shanaka’s sensational hitting – registering Sri Lanka’s quickest T20I fifty – was a becoming finale to its innings, after a robust basis laid by opener Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka’s cost within the center overs.
In the tip, the 68 runs that Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne added within the final 4 overs – together with India’s seven no balls and 4 wides – turned out to be the decisive issue as Sri Lanka gained by 16 runs, thus organising a tantalising series-decider in Rajkot on Saturday.
Axar, although, was sensational along with his pick-up photographs. The all-rounder was phenomenal towards tempo and spin alike. His mockery of the spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana was superb. He learn the flip and flight to precision, actually hitting the ball out of the park every time he wished.
That he overshadowed Suryakumar throughout their 91-run affiliation off simply 40 balls is in itself a testomony to his kind on the evening. Just when the partnership was showing to be threatening, Suryakumar holed out to long-on off left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka.
Thanks to Mavi hitting Madushanka for 16 runs off three balls, the equation was introduced all the way down to 33 runs off the final two overs. But Kasun Rajitha – who opened the floodgates early on – conceded 12 runs within the penultimate over.
And Shanaka bowled an ideal final over to make sure Axar didn’t steal the limelight totally from him.